Communication if the grid goes down ?

[Keith and stuff]

In NH, a whole bunch of people have radios. The number keeps growing. A guy buys them wholesale from China and sells them for $40 cash. He even has the equipment to program them for you at no extra charge. They only reach a couple miles but you can ad on something that extends the range a little. I'd guess, in a few years, a lot more folks will have radios.

There is also pirate radio up here. Oh, and some people made sure the police scanner in several of the cities (including Keene and Manchester) are public. Plus other stuff I'd rather not say.

 

[Matt Collins]

Like I said, I'm a satcom engineer here in Afghanistan -

Ok, cool. Glad to know that because now my respect for your opinions just went up...

Matt - I can tell you from personal experience that if they want to drop the comms out in a 1km radius, they can. And they can do it even further than that when they crank the power.

How far out?

 

[Chris from Upstate NY]

According to Animal Planet and Nat Geo, bigfoots use wood knocking, and the sound travels for miles on a calm night.

 

[klamath]

Matt - I can tell you from personal experience that if they want to drop the comms out in a 1km radius, they can. And they can do it even further than that when they crank the power. And yes, if they want to block out a spectrum (HF, VHF, UHF, etc.) they can. All of it. Goodbye HAM, cell phones, FRS/GMRS, Wifi/Wimax, CB, AM/FM. Incredibly easy to do.

Like I said, I'm a satcom engineer here in Afghanistan - I also manage the data network (including around 30-35 wireless shots) and manage the VHF radios we use (mostly motorola GP360's) and yes, the Army can drop our comms easily. The Marines at least remember to turn off their Dukes/Chameleons/THOR/etc. before they come back on the base.

I deployed to Bosnia with one of the engineers that developed those IED jammers.

 

[klamath]

..

 

[Keith and stuff]

Some good info in this thread. BTW, there have been other threads on this forum about the same question.

 

[jdcole]

klamath - so you know exactly what I am talking about.

 

[klamath]

If it was bad for me to post online. It was bad for you to copy. Now I cannot edit it but you can

I don't actually have 1 of the radios myself.

Fixed

 

[klamath]

klamath - so you know exactly what I am talking about.

Yep.

 

[heavenlyboy34]

The more and more I think about what is happening and how the govt. is positioning itself - the more I think there will be an "event" which will knock out the internet and local communications - with the govt. then taking it over to tell the masses what to do. The stock market will collapse and only certain people will be able to get on it and they will clean our clocks. Total govt. controlled media and Orwell-like reality.

What is in place for local communications if this happens?... other than ham radios? anything?

This is an opportunity for someone to invent a network of string-and-can communications.

 

[TomtheTinker]

Wanted to get a ham radio...but the whole fcc thing is throwing me off. I think im just goingto get a cb for now.

 

[Tinnuhana]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eNhToGB9O7c
Better start learning, eh?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WEALBg_Qtqs

 

[oyarde]

According to Animal Planet and Nat Geo, bigfoots use wood knocking, and the sound travels for miles on a calm night.

Yes they do , and yes it does

 

[bunklocoempire]

Wanted to get a ham radio...but the whole fcc thing is throwing me off. I think im just goingto get a cb for now.

I wasn't thrilled with the licensing aspect either.

I got my handy talkie and used it only for monitoring for six or so months before I even took the test/got licensed.

Being able to monitor other stations/operators gave me a pretty good idea of what the licensed hams in my community are thinking. From my monitoring experience there are hams that I would network with and there are some that I would totally avoid (FCC rule nazis).

At this time in our county my ham radio also allows me to scan police/emergency frequencies on the go from my vehicle.

I monitor way more than I transmit. Being licensed and 'legally' able to transmit gives me a sense of what my equipment can do and if it's operational. Also, in my area, a licensed operator is more likely to get a ton more help from others. <-- Learned that by monitoring. Know your neighbors!

I can monitor CB frequencies with my handy talkie radio but can't transmit on those bands at this time -I'd have to mod my radio. In my area there is a whole lot more to monitor on the ham bands/emergency bands than the CB band.

This is the handheld radio I went with after a crash course learnin' myself about 'em:
http://www.yaesu.com/indexvs.cfm?cm...72D78647DC56EFB0E9&DivisionID=65&isArchived=0
There are some cons to this particular model but overall I've been pretty satisfied with it. It has a nice balance of a lot of things for such a small package.

If I had it to do over, I'd go with a cheaper handheld and spend the saved money on a 6 -160 meter portable HF transceiver & accessories.

License or no license, the equipment is there for all to purchase.

 

[KingRobbStark]

Gun fire is all the communication we need.

 

[bolil]

Gun fire is all the communication we need.

Yet it is silence I will listen for,

 

[cheapseats]

Gun fire is all the communication we need.

This is both false and reckless.

 

[cheapseats]

Wanted to get a ham radio...but the whole fcc thing is throwing me off. I think im just goingto get a cb for now.

I wasn't thrilled with the licensing aspect either.

I got my handy talkie and used it only for monitoring for six or so months before I even took the test/got licensed.

License or no license, the equipment is there for all to purchase.

Sooo, does communication equipment WORK the same with or without licensing/permission?

Bearing the publication of gun owner addresses in mind, can "Authorities" more easily bushwhack licensed/ALLOWED communication equipment? Or does "unauthorized" transmission point a neon arrow at a readily findable Disobeyer?

 

[cheapseats]

...if they want to drop the comms out in a 1km radius, they can. And they can do it even further than that when they crank the power. And yes, if they want to block out a spectrum (HF, VHF, UHF, etc.) they can. All of it. Goodbye HAM, cell phones, FRS/GMRS, Wifi/Wimax, CB, AM/FM. Incredibly easy to do.

Does that mean NOTHING works, not even walkie-talkies such as kids and skiers use?

Let's play PRETEND...exactly what you describe HAPPENS. Does it become the "ground type of thing" mentioned elsewhere in this thread...or is the ground game foiled by generalized wreckage, and are people too busy keeping the roof/food thing together to be bothered with trying to say whassup to other people in the exact same predicament?

 

[tangent4ronpaul]

This is the handheld radio I went with after a crash course learnin' myself about 'em:
http://www.yaesu.com/indexvs.cfm?cm...72D78647DC56EFB0E9&DivisionID=65&isArchived=0
There are some cons to this particular model but overall I've been pretty satisfied with it. It has a nice balance of a lot of things for such a small package.

If I had it to do over, I'd go with a cheaper handheld and spend the saved money on a 6 -160 meter portable HF transceiver & accessories.

License or no license, the equipment is there for all to purchase.

What did that thing set you back?

This one looks pretty sweet, for a throw away.. ($42)

http://www.amazon.com/BaoFeng-UV-5R...TF8&colid=23QZ0JHKVW3PH&coliid=I1KTHFLOJP18QM

-t